Learning from the Brave Blossoms
In the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Japan lost to the All Blacks by 145 to 17. Twenty years later they are a up there with the All Blacks, so to speak. I can say they had a plan and its working. Our game has been around for a very long time, and we have gone from strength to strength. Unfortunately, as soon as one of our young players blossoms, he is whisked away to the bigger nations to bolster their game. I will not disagree with the fact that the player has gone to better things. Good pay is one of them. I hear of the many Fijian rugby players who go overseas to play, make a name for themselves and send home money and the family’s welfare is a bit better than before. Nice homes are built in the village. A vehicle is bought, siblings education is enhanced because big brother is paying for higher education tuition fees. The FRU has always been there, but I have a feeling there is a room full of drawing boards. Let’s learn from the Brave Blossoms, yes they had a plan. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Lautoka
John McKee and Fijian rugby
When John McKee said that Fijian rugby has improved during his reign, I am not really sure what he was talking about. Mr Lingam gave a good analysis on Mr McKee’s achievement in the past two world cups (FT 23/10) and I believe the truth speaks for itself, there was no improvement at all. The coach, in justifying his view to stay as coach, said that he has a good knowledge of where Fijian rugby is and if a new coach will come he has to begin building again from scratch. I want to remind Mr McKee that at this point in time change might be better for Fijian rugby, especially when there is no real improvement from the past two world cups. He should not be worried for every coach knows what they are up to when coming into the job for that is what they are good at, coaching. Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Battle of the coaches
This week will see veteran coaches Warren Gatland (Wales), Rassie Erasmus (South Africa), Steve Hansen (NZ) and Eddie Jones (England) use their rugby brains to outpace each other and only time will tell who is the smarter. Jones led Australia to the 2003 RWC which they lost on home soil to England via the boots of Wilkinson. He was part of the 2007 Springboks winning outfit and coached the Japanese in their historic win over the Boks. Hansen, on the other hand, was the coach of the 2015 RWC winning All Blacks outfit and out of all the coaches has the best winning record. Gatland, who has been at the helm of Welsh rugby since 2007, has won four Six Nations titles including three Grand Slams and he led Wales to the semis of the 2011 RWC. Furthermore, just like Gatland, Erasmus has yet to find success at a RWC. Hence, it’s going to be a grand tussle between four coaches and come the weekend I am confident that Hansen and Erasmus will prevail! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Darlings of rugby
Please if you want to send your wishes to the so called “darlings of rugby”, send it to to NZ Herald or the Dominion Post where you may get people praising your letter. I believe New Zealand and the rest of the big playing nations are nothing more than poachers of island rugby players, offering citizenship and big paying contracts to players from the Pacific. When players reach their use-by date they are discarded with time restrictions on when they can return to their islands of birth. The All Blacks should be called the All Backs, backline from all over the Pacific. I believe World Rugby is run by a bunch of cronies from the big rugby nations, controlled by the sponsors and ensuring that the big nations only survive at the world stage. Referees and the red card are yet again the main weapon — place of birth dictates the colour of the card you are given. Money from this world body should be more appropriately spent developing the Pacific rugby nations, in the form of sponsored coaches, stadiums, development programs, academies. Fiji and it’s Pacific brothers can only be a platform for providing players without issues to be recruited overseas but time penalties returning to their land of birth to play again. Why not follow the simpler guidelines of the rugby league code. William Gardiner Balawa St, Lautoka
Education issues
In the beginning of this year, I believe chaotic events at the Ministry of Education had come to light. One may presume that things would have been sorted out. Though, throughout the succeeding months, issues were popping up. One of them being shortage of teachers. The Fiji Times (18/10) ran an article about issuance of a circular to heads of schools on September 27. The circular states that the Education Ministry will be conducting an audit. An audit to ascertain if schools have excess of teachers and teachers allocated with no students. According to the permanent secretary, school heads would be asked for this information. As little as I know, all teachers in Fiji have to be registered and without this necessity, they are not allowed to step inside any classroom. I believe the Education Ministry also has an online system. The Fiji Education Management Information System (FEMIS) which is an intricate network of statistics. It has login provisions at various levels right down to the individual teachers. With systems and an information system just a click away, why the need to ask the heads of schools? Wouldn’t FEMIS reveal without an audit? If the ministry is in this state at such a late stage in the year, what will happen in January 2020? Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Police force
The police force’s motto is Salus Populi meaning “Health of the People”. Their code of ethics is — As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve the community; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation and the peaceful against violence or disorder; … etc. Sadly a young police officer dies at the hands of a suspect. Oh how sad, that a young lawman has to die this way. Just out from police training and a whole future in front of him. We ask why oh why did he have to die like that. To the family, my condolences, to the police officers — you stay on the right track, don’t take it out on other suspects. Keep the peace, keep the law. If you don’t keep the law, who will? Allen Lockington Kava Place, Lautoka
Our coaches
It is no mere coincidence that the three major sports in Fiji are facing a coaching issue. First it was soccer where we lost the Bula Boys’ mentor Gamel. Then recently after a poor performance at the Netball WC, the contract of coach Vicky Wilson is in limbo… and last but not least with a mixed result at the Rugby World Cup, we are awaiting another bombshell with some brainstorming at the Rugby House on John McKee’s contract. The irony in all three sports is we have an abundance of raw local and overseas talent at our disposal but we still lack the right coaching, mentoring and leaders to make Fiji, our Fiji, a winning formula in sports. Leadership is not a position but action, so as we embark on the road to the next big event, the World Cup, our hunt for the perfect man or woman to lead our rugby, soccer and netball teams continue. We need leaders who breathe, think innovate and make it happen on the field or court. Living and breathing and putting sports and passion ahead of anything else. Joka kece na coaches ni timi ni Viti… the hunt begins. Shalwyn Prasad Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
Front page
It’s only after reading The Fiji Times front page article “Torture, abuse worry” (FT 22/10) that I realised “third degree” is still in currency in Fiji. I thought Fiji had become utopia after its return to democracy after the “clean-up” military coup of 2006. But we can get things wrong. Things are not always what they are made out to be. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
A believer
I believe that Dan Urai is a believer! Vijay P Madhavan Borron Rd,
Suspicious deaths
How appropriate would it be to rename the deaths of American holidaying couple David and Michelle Paul from mysterious deaths to suspicious deaths? Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
Wrong paper
I believe the wrong paper is always right, even the PM agrees there is a housing shortage for teachers. Sukha Singh Labasa
Passport application
Is it the current administration or an indication that many want to travel out of beautiful Fiji? Dan Urai Lautoka
Bus trip
I took a bus trip along Queens Rd from Suva on Sunday morning. The entire duration of the journey was punctuated by footage and sound effects of gratuitous violence, torture and gore because of the film Rambo (2008) being played on the television. I am horrified that the bus company thinks it is appropriate to show Rambo on a Sunday morning to an audience that includes young children. The film is rated R18+ for “strong graphic bloody violence” and is considered one of the most violent films of all time. There are scenes of adults and children being impaled, raped and mutilated. If people find extreme violence such as Rambo enjoyable to watch in their own homes that is their own decision. That this film is shown by the bus company on a bus ride to a public audience, including children, is a disgrace. Isabelle Gurney Suva
Teachers’ issues
When teachers are exposed to challenging conditions at their workplace, how can we expect the best out of them? Dan Urai Lautoka
